God Made You

Your hands shaped me and made me. Job 10:8a (New International Version)

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Just needing a nugget today. My faith is waving floppily in the wind (in case you haven't noticed)... so, this little passage, well, part of a passage is good to read.

Is God Selfish?

So, here's the thing. God is the big being, who has power over death itself, he's created the heavens, stars, the universe. He wants everyone to be outward focused, focused on pleasing him. Wait. He wants me to be focused on pleasing him? Does that make God selfish? But the Bible says God is without sin, but he wants everything to be about him? I don't get that.

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Galatians 5:16-6:6

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.

Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
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I don't know, but it kind of looks like God is a tad bit selfish, wanting everyone to worship him. God calls us to imitate him, too, so I don't get it. I used to get it, but I don't anymore.

Georgia Pastor Arrested Protesting 'Demon' Mascot

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. (AP) — Warner Robins police say they've charged pastor Donald Crosby with picketing without a license for protesting Warner Robins High School's "Demon" nickname and mascot.

Police spokeswoman Tabitha Pugh says 36-year-old Crosby was arrested on Monday after police told him he didn't have a permit, as required by the city.

Crosby and supporters set up the protest outside the school on the opening day of classes because of their opposition to the nickname. He says his son attends the school and he doesn't want him exposed to the name's connotations.

Pugh says Crosby, of Kingdom Builders Church of Jesus Christ, is charged with picketing without a license and disorderly conduct for not leaving when asked. Crosby was released from the Houston County jail on bond. He did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

Salvation

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17 (New Living Translation)

God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him. John 3:17 (New Century Version)

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." John 3:16-18 (English Standard Version)

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It almost sounds like belief is enough, but even if that is the implication, James says that belief is not enough. That demons believe in Jesus, and shudder at the thought. James goes on to show that believing and action produce faith.

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Romans 5:1-11

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

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We have hope due to character, We have character due to perserverance. We perservere due to sufferings. We have sufferings due to faith. We have faith because we believe. Now, personally speaking, I am not sure what I believe right now. I've experienced sufferings due to a belief in God. I've perservered through those, well, at least most of them. I have felt in many ways that I developed a great character... and in a lot of ways I still believe, but my hope is shaken. That is really the key issue right now. So, am I saved? I don't think so, even though I believe, I don't believe enough to put action to my belief (just like a demon).

Treasure Secrets

Secrets by OneRepublic

I need another story
Something to get off my chest
My life gets kind of boring
Need something that i can confess

Till all my sleeves are stained red
From all the truth that I've said
Come by it honestly I swear
Thought you saw me wink, no, I've been on the brink, so

Tell me what you want to hear
Something that'll like those ears
Sick of all the insincere
So I'm gonna give all my secrets away
This time Don't need another perfect lie
Don't care if critics never jump in line
I'm Gonna give all my secrets away

My God, amazing how we got this far
It's like were chasing all those stars
Who's driving shiny big black cars

And everyday I see the news
All the problems we could solve
And when a situation rises
Just write it into an album
Seen it straight to go
I don't really like my flow, no, so

Tell me what you want to hear
Something that'll like those ears
Sick of all the insincere
So I'm gonna give all my secrets away
This time Don't need another perfect lie
Don't care if critics never jump in line
I'm Gonna give all my secrets away

Got no reason, Got no shame, Got no family, I can blame
Just don't let me disappear
I'mma tell you everything

Tell me what you want to hear
Something that'll like those ears
Sick of all the insincere
So I'm gonna give all my secrets away
This time Don't need another perfect lie
Don't care if critics never jump in line
I'm Gonna give all my secrets away

Tell me what you want to hear
Something that'll like those ears
Sick of all the insincere
So I'm gonna give all my secrets away
This time, Don't need another perfect lie
Don't care if critics never jump in line
I'm Gonna give all my secrets away

All my secrets away, All my secrets away

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Matthew 6:16-24

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

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Treasure in Heaven... it is referenced in Matthew 19:21, Mark 10:21, Luke 12:33, Luke 18:22. What is a treasure in heaven? It sounds like a BIG deal and yet it is only mentioned in the NIV five times.